Moving house can be a particularly stressful process – it has even been recognised as a “stressful life event”. Here are some tips to make it as simple as possible:
1. Declutter your home
Whenever I have to move, I’m amazed by how much stuff I have managed to accumulate and how much of it I never use. My advice would be to allow yourself one box of things to keep that have no use but do have sentimental value. Once the box is full, that’s it, anything else has to be thrown out or something already in the box has to be sacrificed to make room. Don’t let yourself make excuses, if you haven’t used it in the last year, you’re probably not going to use it – lets be honest. A new home is offers a fresh start -I don’t know about you but I always feel better after a good clear out. You can even use this opportunity to give things to charity or make a bit of money by selling old possessions on eBay.
2. Start packing before you think you need to
I always think packing won’t take that long, I’m usually wrong. Start with the non-essentials (this is also good for the decluttering process) that way you can start early without disturbing the things you need for your daily routine. That drawer you never open, the loft/garage that’s just used as storage – these are the places to start. Once you’ve got them out of the way, everything else will seem simple. Also, these boxes will be at the bottom of you the pile and the boxes with all the things you actually use will be on top. For large pieces of furniture you no longer want or need you can always advertise them on freecycle.
3. Organisation is Key
Label Everything, colour code, go crazy with your organisation. You may have your own system that seems obvious and intuitive to you but if others are assisting in the move, clearly labelling things is helpful to guide them. Also assigning a colour of label for each room can be handy.
4. Get more boxes
You’ve bought boxes and have suitcases already? That’s great. Buy more boxes. You can never have too many boxes when moving (ok, technically you can but it’s better to have too many than too little). You can ask supermarkets if they have any spare boxes or if you’re more concerned with convenience than frugalness then you can buy packs of boxes.
5. Don’t bother with bubble wrap
Whilst bubble wrap is fun (if you ever need an outlet from the stress of moving just stomp around on it for a bit). Bubble wrap is great if you’re moving with children, it’ll keep them entertained for a while. But generally you don’t really need bubble wrap, you can use bed sheets, towels and jumpers to wrap around breakables. They have more padding than bubble wrap and you’re utilising the space that would have been taken up by the bubble wrap.
6. Make a plan
It’s entirely likely things won’t go to plan, but it’s always good have one anyway. Leaving everything to the last minute or leaving things undefined is only going to lead to confusion and probably stress.
7. Make time for a break
Moving house can be exhausting both physically and emotionally. Accept that you probably will get tired and sad you’re leaving (even if you’re glad to be moving, uprooting your entire existence can be a lot to take on and more emotional than you anticipate). So, plan so fun things to do, don’t worry about the little things and make sure you ask for help when you need it.
8. On moving day, send any young children and pets away
If your children are a bit older it might be nice for them to get involved with the moving process, make them feel like they’re a part of the move. But if your children are too young to be left alone, ask someone to look after them on the day of the move – it’s just simpler for everyone. That way you know they’re safe and happy and can focus on what you need to get done. If you’re really organised you can even have their room sorted out for them by the time they arrive, making the transition as easy as possible for them. Then they can explore and play in their new room while you sort out the rest of the house.
9. Know where you packed the essentials
When packing, make sure you know where the things you need to use on moving day evening actually are – the bedding, the curtains, your toothbrush, the coffee machine etc. Go through your daily routine in your mind and make a “daily essentials” box.
10. If all else fails, pay someone else to do it
If you’ve got the money but not the time, why not get someone else to pack up and move your house? Some moving companies even offer personal assistants to help you with whatever you need during the moving process.
Featured Image by Nathan O’Nions
Rachel Hemsley
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- Ten Tips for Stress Free Moving - November 30, 2013
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